Abrangement for reefing and fueling- topsails fkom the deck of the



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

WILLIAM H. FOSTER, OF PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

ARRANGEMENT FOR REEFING AND FURLING- TOISAILS FROM THE DECK OF THEVESSEL.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

To all 'wh-0m t may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM II. FOSTER, ofPortsmouth, in the county of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement for Reefing To-psails and otherSails of Vessels from the Deck and for Furling the Same Therefrom; and Ido hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the construction and opera tion of the same, referencebeing had to the annexed drawings, making a part of the specification,in which- Figure 1, represents the back view of a sail with reef bands,bolt ropes and reeling lines attached. It also represents the manner inwhich the main reef lines, running up through their respective sheaves,pass along through blocks or pulleys in the center on the upper side ofthe yard, and thence running aloft through blocks or pulleys come downon deck; and, in which Fig. 2, represents the front view of a sail withhatten attached along the front side of the yard, with sheaves orpulleys set therein through which the reef lines run. It also representsthe manner in which the furling lines are fastened through the canvas tothe reef bands, or bolt ropes which are attached to the sail on the backside, and the manner in which said furling lines thence pass up throughtheir respective blocks or pulleys and are joined to the main reeflines, when not used independently thereof. It also shows the manner inwhich the dogs ears are taken in.

The nature of my invention consists in bending the sail to jack-stays,Fig. 2, A, made fast on hatten, B, while I attach to and along the foreside of the yard-or on the backside thereof, if preferred-and inproviding one or more reef-bands, Fig. l, C, bolt (or other) ropes D, orboth, if necessary, to extend horizontally on the back of the sail, atsuch distances below the yard as may be needed for each reef. My mainreef lines, E, are then fastened into the ends of said reef bands, orbolt ropes, or both, at the place usually called the ear ring F and rundirectly up through their respective sheaves, or pulleys, Fig. 2, G, setin batten, or through corresponding blocks on the yard, then run alongsaid hatten, or the yard, through a block, blocks or pulleys, H,situated on the upper side in or near the cent-er of the yard, then upaloft through a 11,644, dated September 5, 1854.

block, blocks or vpulleys I situated on the cross trees, or the mast,then independently, on being joined together, are brought down on deckand made fast. On the said reef bands, bolt ropes, or both, at suchdistances apart as may be required, I attach such a number of minor reeflines, Fig. l, K, as may be needed to secure the reef and sail, and passsaid lines directly up through their respective sheaves or pulleys, Fig.2, L set in said batten, or through corresponding blocks on the yard,and splice the same into the main reef lines, at M, Fig. 2, or let themrun independently through blocks or pulleysy at H, and I and come downon deck in the same manner as my main reef lines.

For a second or third reef, my reef bands bolt ropes, (or both), mainreef lines and minor reef lines are aliiXed and operate in like mannerand principle as for the first reef. My furling lines, or spillinglines, Fig. 2, N, (such a number as may be needed to secure the furl) Ifasten through the canvas on the front side as at, O, to the reefbandsor bolt ropes which are attached to the back side of the sail, and thenpass the said lines up through their respective blocks or pulleys, Fig.2, P, and either join the same to the main reef lines as at Q, or letthem pass jointly or independently through blocks or pulleys at H and I,in the same manner as the main reef lines and, bringing the same down ondeck, make them fast.

To take in the dogs ears I fasten a line as at R Fig. 2, and running thesame on the sail a little diagonally either join it to the main reeflines as at S, or make it fast to one of the furling lines as at T. Ialso design to use a down haul, Fig. l V, which may be fastened to theparrel V or yard, by the aid of which the yard may be readily broughtdown in any weather.

To take in the first reef Fig. 1, W, I have only to loosen the halyardsX from the deck. To take in a second reef Y, I have only to loosen thehalyards as before and the first main reef lines E1, and to take in athird, or close reef Z, I again loosen the halyards and the first andsecond main reef lines E1 and E2; in case the furling lines runindependently to take in a second or third reef and furl, the furlinglines N, corresponding with the main reef lines, must be loosened.

By this invention the yard is not only strengthened, but the sail also,and the reefY points as now in use may still be cona.linesyfnrling orspilling lines, the lines for tnned, in case of any necessity lto usethe k ma.nelingering the dogsears, Withthe necessame. Y `s alysheavesand blocks, whereby the square The entire Work of reefing, and furlingI`sails. ofvga Vessel may be reefed and furled 15 5 any sail from thedeck, is successfully acby the lowering of the yard, from the deckcomplished in a few minutes by the above Lof the y.essel; substantiallyas -herein set process. i zforth.

What I claim as of my invention and WILLIAM I-I. FOSTER. desire tosecure by Letters Patent, isk Witnesses: 10 The arrangement of thejack-stay and. Y WILLIAM B. LOWD,

batten, With the main and minor reeng BRACKETT IIUrCHINYs.

